Moldova looks to niche crops to boost revenue

Currently, sunflower and, to some extent, rapeseed act as “key revenue drivers” for Moldovan farmers, but experts recommend paying more attention to “niche” crops. According to the results of a study by the Agrocereale association, the share of oilseeds in the structure of field crops for the current year’s harvest in the country is at least 30%. According to the agronomic norm, analysts note, it should not exceed 20%. Given the agronomic limits for the production of sunflower and rapeseed, they must be partially replaced in field crop rotations with oilseeds, grain and industrial crops with a higher specific value. These can be flax and mustard seeds, buckwheat, hemp, safflower and other crops. Agricultural crops from the range of grain and oilseed “niche” in the structure of physical exports occupy less than 1%, while the financial revenue from their deliveries abroad is approaching 2% of the total amount of agricultural and food exports of the country. “These agricultural ...